inlandnewbie
regular
Reged: 30/01/2006
Posts: 263
Loc: hertfordshire
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We will be having our first guests onboard our boat this sunday (the parents) and they want to treat us to lunch afterwards. Does anyone know of any good restaurants or pubs in the penton hook area (not chains, ie beefeater type places). As we are in penton hook marina, I assume that Chertsey might be a better place to head to rather then Staines.
By the way it wont be a place we will be visiting by boat, as we not confident to go through the locks yet, so looking for somewhere within a short car journey
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6862
Loc: Surrey uk
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The Boathouse by Chertsey Bridge is good.
If you want a bit more upmarket go a little further and try the Runnymede Hotel next to Bell Weir Lock - ring and book into Charlie Bells Restaurant for reasonable prices or they also have a posh restaurnt as well.
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
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bradtarga34
regular
Reged: 03/04/2006
Posts: 309
Loc: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
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I was keeping an eye out for you on Saturday as popped onto the vistors pontoon to give the swindlery a raid while friends of our went to the poop tube and fuel up, although the fuel pump is apparently out of order... Must say, with the wind and weir stream, makes it quite an interesting manoeuvre. The Swan in Staines is really good and moorings out the front. They charge you £10.00, but that comes straight off if you spend more than a tenner there, so just stops people using their mooring when they have no intention of actually spending in the pub. Watch out for the Gavi raiding party though! 
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Doolittle
regular
Reged: 13/04/2007
Posts: 294
Loc: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
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Sorry Boatone, I can't agree with you about the boat house - over priced frozen mass produced disappointment on a plate. We were there a couple of weeks ago and by comparison to the new Italian restaurant in Chertsey called Caspari's it couldn't hold a candle.
I would recommend the Three Feathers pub. Moor at Laleham warf (opposite Harris Boat Yard) - no locks, gentle amble down the river and easy mooring, and walk up Vicarage Lane and the pub is opposite to the right. Further, if you stay overnite you can go back there for a full English breakfast for £3.50!
Also opposite the Boat House at Chertsey Bridge is the standard fair of Vintage Inns Kingfisher but poss a bit too Beefeaterish.
If you really have to drive then Caspari's is excellent and cheaper and more civilised that the Boat House!! Or a bit further is Edwinns in Shepperton Square.
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6862
Loc: Surrey uk
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Well all I can say is you must have gone on a very bad night then. Usually eat there several times during a season and their Cod and Chips is excellent. Our marina is just across the road so lot of others eat there as well and rarely hear any complaints....on the other hand the Kingfisher.......no ta!
Thats the problem with restaurants ..one bad experience and theyre doomed for life.
BradTarga is fond of The Swan...had a meal there a year or two back and vowed never to go again.
Runnymede Hotel has always been A1.
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
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inlandnewbie
regular
Reged: 30/01/2006
Posts: 263
Loc: hertfordshire
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thanks for the advice and tips - don't know if I'm brave enough to moor the boat up on a public spot and leave it unattended yet!
might give the Runnymede hotel a try
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bradtarga34
regular
Reged: 03/04/2006
Posts: 309
Loc: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
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The Swan used to be woeful, but every visit we have been there have never had a duff meal (touchwood). That is in the last year or so, so you might have gone prior to it sorting itself out. The fish and chips are excellent, and some good proper beers on tap as well!
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bradtarga34
regular
Reged: 03/04/2006
Posts: 309
Loc: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
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Hi Mike, nice to meet you on Saturday, I hope I wasn't talking too much jibberish, not like Mr Targa 38! Will have to check out the Italian, whereabouts is it in Chertsey?
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Gavi
regular
Reged: 01/06/2006
Posts: 1628
Loc: Sunny Staines
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Ah, food in these reaches.
At Chertsey, we've found the Kingfisher to be consistent and enjoyable, if a little Beefeatery. You cannot moor up right outside, though you can stop just before the waiting area (coming down from PH) before the lock. It is a shorter walk than the place B1 mentions, but as B1 spends a reasonable amount of time around there I would follow his recommendation - if only for a discussion point 
We'd support Doolittle's local knowledge.
The Swan is a great pub with a hit and miss restaurant, but probably the nicest view locally. SWMBO has put it on the "suspend" list due to 3 continuous bad experiences recently. Sorry, Brad, but it has changed management since last summer. Avoid the 3 eateries on the other side of the river at all costs. The Swan does still get raided by some bloke up river from time to time though
The Runnymede is very nice if a little pricey and you tend to need to book.
SWMBO does a good steak but you are more likely to find us in a pub on a rugby weekend 
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Elessar
regular
Reged: 10/07/2003
Posts: 428
Loc: Thames or nomadic south coast.
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The Swan did youngs discovery last time i was there - who needs to eat?
A trip to shepperton is nice from PH and I think the anglers (think that's what it's called, it's opposite shepperton marina just downstream of walton marina) is great - it was so busy 1 time we couldn't sit outside so the admiral asked the waitress if they'd serve us on the boat - which they did no problem!
As for the lock, tell the lock keeper and any other boaters that's you're new and they'll get you through. I've only come across 1 unfriendly boater on the Thames.
The secret is to do it slowly. Drift, see which way you're going, turn the wheel a bit the way you want to go and put it into gear and out again then see what happens - repeat. 20% in gear max, gentle and slow. You have to try it sometime so give it a go!
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